Sectional cabinet and filler structure therefor



SECTIONAL CABINET AND FILLER STRUCTURE THEREFOR Filed Feb. 23, 1945 H. G. KNUTH Dec. 8, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet l 8, 1953 H. G. KNUTH 2,661,994

SECTIONAL CABINET AND FILLER STRUCTURE THEREFOR Filed Feb. 25, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 8, 1953 H. G. KNUTH 2,661,994

SECTIONAL CABINET AND FILLER STRUCTU RE THEREFOR Filed Feb. 25, 1945 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 1I I K '1' J3 J3 J H! I I 1 i' I lmmlmll munmnu mumluu Patented Dec. 8, 1953 UNITED srA'rss arar orF SECTIONAL CABINET AND FILLER STRUCTURE THEREFOR Harvey G. Knuth, Elgin, Ill., assignor to Lyon Metal Products, Incorporated, Aurora, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application February 23, 1945, Serial No. 579,457

2 Claims.

up of a number of similar or various types of cabinets, such for instance as cabinets which contain vertical tiers of drawers, cabinets'which have a single closure for the open front or a double closure for the open front, or in fact any present day type of cabinet, and the invention resides in finishing these cabinets in the same manner as heretofore finished, except thatthey are complete without any tops. In short, they are open at the top. The tops are manufactured separately in various lengths of a number of widths to correspond with the various widths of the separately built cabinets, which lengths may be cut to size to cover one or more juxtaposed cabinets, and wherein each such elongated top as an article of manufacture comprises a wooden, preferably plywood, substantially rectangular fiat structure carrying metallic edging or facing along its front and back parallel sides, and carrying a linoleum top commensurate in areafwith the urn derlying area of the top, and a sheet metal or other material edging for the front and back which overlies and makes a waterproof seal, preferably being imbedded into the top surface of the linoleum, the other two opposed marginal end portions of the top being free of any edgings or facings, and being provided with means, specifically, dowel pin openings, whereby two of these top sections, including a corner and one or more straight lengths, may be assembled end to end in such a manner as to make a watertight joint therebetween and particularly between the contiguous. confronting edges of the linoleum at the top, by means of which construction a complete cabinet may be assembled which has a linoleum top coextensive with its length and wherein the front and back and side walls of the complete cabinet are provided with metallic or other material edgings making a water-tight seal with the linoleum or other top finish for the cabinet top.

Another object of the invention resides in providing a so-called kitchen cabinet installation including a number of finished open-topped cabinet constructions including a corner section, which are adapted to be rigidly secured together in any desired fashion and wherein a completed top having a linoleum or other material finish at the top closes the top of one ormore of said sections in such a manner that the length of the .single top is a multiple ofIthe'length-of two or 'more of the underlying cabinets, whereby the 2 junction between a plurality of the underlying cabinets is covered by a single elongated top structure presenting a smooth, unbroken linoleum or other material top surface for the underlying cabinets, and wherein this top surface is provided with continuous front and back metallic edges making a water-tight seal with the material of the cabinet top.

Yet another object of the invention resides in providing a specifically designed corner section which is adapted to unite the two legs of an L-shaped cabinet in such a manner as to provide at the corner junction a rounded frontal surface which joins with the end surfaces of the cabinets forming the legs of the L-shaped cabinet to provide a smooth front and a linoleum or other material top, the junctions of the separate cabinets at the top being free of metallic or other material edgings, and wherein the contiguous edges of the linoleum of thetseparate top sections are united together by a suitable adhesive such that after a predetermined amount of use the raw edges of the top material, particularly the linoleum, will substantially flow together to exclude dirt and moisture and present a substantially unbroken material top that is impervious to moisture, liquids, dirt and the like.

Yet another object of the invention resides in providing a kitchen cabinet which may be built up of two or more juxtaposed basal cabinet sec tions and separately completed top sections assemblable end to end, and wherein an end scriber plate may be utilized for covering the front of the cabinet to cover a void between the end section of the base of the cabinet and the adjacent cabinet wall where the space is not an exact multiple of the width of the particular cabinets used for the installation, and likewise whereby with a finished, completed cabinet top longer than the underlying cabinet but of selected length such that a piece of the top thereof may be sawed or cut ofi exactly to carry over to meet the adjacent wall which is spaced from the end of the selected cabinet, the additional length of the cabinet top beyond the endof the underlying cabinet corresponding exactly to the width of the end scriber plate, the cabinet installation will lie flush with the spaced adjacent wall so as to provide a neat appearance and whereby the gap between the" cabinet and said wall is covered both at front and at the top.

Another object of the invention is to provide a distinct type of base corner angle for covering the front of the corner installation between the two legs of an L-shaped corner cabinet.

Another object of the invention is to provide an end scriber plate and an end plate which may be used to close the end of a cabinet, said base corner angle, end scriber plate, and end plates and said cabinet being formed of sheet metal and the tops being formed of Wood, preferably plywood, andtopped with sheet material, such for instance as linoleum, and edged with metallic facings imbedded in the top of the linoleum in a liquid-tight manner, whereby to provide a continuous finished appearance for the cabinet.

Another object is to provide a rear iiietaliic' border edging for the top having a rear longitii'di nal recess for the reception of cementwhereby the same is made tightly adherent reti e wall. to exclude moisture, the front edge portion of this facing being imbedded in the top surface of the linoleum of the top.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent from a perusal of the following v sp ecification whentakeh in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a front perspec "shaped ,CGIlii cabinet embodf' Eigiire 21 is a diagrammatic View of an L-sl'i View of i.- myi inve tio'n;

fs n length with the or the underlying bottiifn sections"; E Figure 3 is a,. C-shapedfdabinet installation";

,rigure 4 "is a front view 'of the basal corner sectional View taken on the line 5+5. of Figure if:

. Eigure e penises/, ,view or hie tim intvhich the separate cabinet tops are separately,

ficllsfi V, r section taken on the 'iine 1 1 or a section taken on the line "s s or F gure z fis a perspective flew of the fill eremb nd ,1

. ml :1 Figure 13 is a section taken on the line rams ofFigure l 1.

, Referring i aw ingeii al to the invefitltn "t e same compr'isesfa cabinet installation'andniet od 5 or assembling so that manufacturers andfdis'tributors may buy and 'keep. inventories of a lesser mor imes a p e n m .k t 'l cabinetsare'madeup of vapours binationsof units each unit being a complete cabinet finished e b t an n nd the a ise ate e t n ias 'embl re ati n-mit desi ea .In some instances kitchen; cabinetsare custom fm d t a s they some xaqtj ecifisa ie ewh eh is rre r nsive th nre ent nr n iqn :1 resides. in manufacturing kitchen cabinet tops Tor desire lengthsgn de re vz' i hsir iing juxtapose d basal cabinet arrangements of ,variousitypes, some with vertical tiers ofj'drawers, some with single front closures, some with double front closures, some with hingedir'onts "swinging outwar'diy 'abou't horizontal pivots, "and in fact "an of 'the'modern types "of arrangements "of cabinets are within "the "contemplation Yet the "present 'mtenoon in so far as the "construction per se of the basal cabinet is concerned. The one departure resides in the fact that the cabinets at the top, as finished, are completely open.

The tops of the cabinets are manufactured separately as separate articles of manufacture and may comprise preferably a ooden rectangular elongated top section, preferably plywood, a finished sheet top material therefor, preferably linoleum, adherent to the top of the wooden section, the front and rear margins of the plywood l-inole'ulii .top .being faced with sheet metal rims or ease bindings the free edges of which at the topare preferably imbedded in the marginal edgesor the l noieum in a waterproof and moistur'e proof ma ner whereby the front and rear edges are suitably finished. Except for a corner top piece the two opposite parallel end edges of these elongated top sections are left free of ed ings and are providedwith means whereby one ortvvo of the sections and the corner may be as semble'd together by means of registering dowel openings and interlocking dowel pin's, the contiguous wall linoleum edges being suitably connected togeth'erby means of a cement so that the line between the linoleum sections is practically invisible. Tliese finished top sections are secured in place to thecabinets by means ofwobd screws from beneath into the underside of the tops and also into angle brackets carried by the finished bottom cabinets. One of .theadvantages of the foregoing resides in thefact that by the use of completed, ready to install basal cabinet units and completed ready to install elongated top pieces, any combination of length or widthmay be readi'ly arrived at frorn s toclr i'n inventory, e r y med u s, fi ..e -oi aedi nsa t factory or at t e job, Forinstance, in inany cases a length o'f cab'ihts built up of relatively short length, individual cabi'nets whereby great rigidity of individual cabinet construction may be obtained th'e cabinet sections being suitably connected together by sheet metal screws or they may be simply installed end toend together and then a single cabinet top of, a length multiple r that of the underlying cabinets may {be selected or cut on the job to overlie the length of juxtaposed cabinets and so that the junctions between thecabinets will be covered by a single top havin a single un roken sheet of linoleum. thereby positively excluding water and presentinga finished top both'at the top and at the iront and back edge facings. In this way-a minimum number or 136135 need be'kept in stock by the distributor than in the existing practices. Therefore a cabinet :toflp construction and preferably an open top cabinet construction or the foregoing character not only entails great saving to the manufac- .turer and distributonjbut also'permits the pro- ;di t pn nd 'in' t lat n, 1 afi h-edcabinet in- [stallation (ifanydsired width and jliigth pro- ;viding any Q combination desired, and whereby 11ioe; ms joints, which attract moistureand dirt between sections, are eliminated. In addition, "great'advantag'es are provided by the constructionof the ends of thecorners of the cabinet suiting' the'needs or theinst'allation. l

Referring now to the drawings it will be undered. that??? eeb n i i m a formed bf sheet metalofprebuilt finished construction. For

'7 stance, referringto Figure 1, there 'is shown 75 portionth'ereabove, of generally rectangularconstruction and including'a vertical side wall 4. It is of usual construction except that it is made of sheet metal. doors 8 and I0 hinged as at I2, I4, I6 and I8 to inner located but not shown vertical supports Well known in the art. Inaddition this cabinet is provided with a drawer having 'a handle 22. The cabinet to the right of Figure l is similar in construction except that it includes a vertical tier of drawers 22, 24 and 26. V

.In addition there is a. corner structure which comprises a base corner angle as shown in Figure 4 including the right angled basal piece 28 formed of sheet metal having an integral upstanding curvilinear and elongated member 30 provided with oppositely extendin flanges 32 and 34 each flange being suitably provided with spaced per-.

forations 36 and 38. The flanges 32 and 34 of this basal piece are united by means of preferably metallic screws or bolts to the adjacent wall sections of the adjacent cabinet bases. In addition to the base corner angle there is a top for the corner which will be hereinafter described.

The manufactured tops for the basal sections of these cablnets comprise separate articles of manufacture; Each top consists essentially of a preferably elongated rectangular body portion 40, see Figure 8, herein shown as formed of plywood laminations. It is of substantial thickness and on its topsurface carries an adherent of desired material plastic, but preferably sheet linoleum 42. This waterproof covering is cut to the size and shape of the elongated top portion 40 and secured thereto by suitable waterproof cement.

In addition each elongated made up top 40 also includes front and back marginal edging or facing, preferably of sheet metal such as stainless sheet metal. For instance, the front edging 44 has an underlying, longitudinally extending flange 46 which will underlie the front edge of the laminated body portion of the top and is secured in place by fastening means such as a nail 48. The upper portion of this edging is finished smooth as at 50 and has an end 52 which is imbedded in a suitable groove formed in the front margin of the linoleum or other material top 42. This front edging 44 is coextensive with the length of the top section, as shown for instance in Figure 6. In addition there is a rear edging which comprises the sheet metal chromium plated band 54 attached to the rear wall of the body portion 40 by means of the fastener. 56. Thisvrear edging projects upwardly above the linoleum, thence inwardly as at 58 to provide a cement receiving pocket, thence folded inwardly upon itself as at 60, and thence it bends downwardly as at 62 and is provided with the free end 64 that is imbedded in a groove in the rear margin of the linoleum or other surface. The pocket 58 is adapted to receive waterproofing cement which adheres the folded part 60 snugly to the wall 66 so as to prevent water passing downwardly between the wall and the rear of the cabinet. This rear edging 54 is likewise coextensive with the length of the top section. In certain cases, as shown in Figure 6, the raw cut end 68 of the section may be closed by an end edging of a chr0 mium finished or stainless sheet metal strip 10 suitably perforated as at I2 and I4 and having front and rear finished surfaces I6 and 18 to accord with the front and rear edgings 44 and 54 respectively. Fastening means 80 and 82 pass through the holes 12 and I4 into the raw edge 68 of the section whereby suitably to finish this end of the top where such strip is the outside end,

It includes a finished side wall '5,

as shown in Figurel/The strip 10 is provided with. a rounded inwardly extending flange 16 corresponding to'the flange 50 of the front edging 44 and also has a downwardly extending portion II which presses against the raw edge of the linoleum 42 by the fastening means and 82 to provide a tight finish along this joining line. A bottom flange I9 also is .held tightly against the lower edge of the body portion 40 as shown in Figure 5. I l As shown in Figure8 the top panels 40. are supported on longitudinal angle members BI and 83'which are provided with openings to accommodate wood screws 85 and 81 which are screwed from inside the cabinets up into the under surface of the panels 40 to tightly hold themin place. The corner top .piece 88 shown in Figure 6 is provided with rear trim or edgings like 54 so as to lie flush with the wall and the two side edges 90 and 92 are left unfinished. They are preferably provided with dowel openings 94, 96, 98 and I00 for the reception of dowel pins I02 and I04 which dowel pins are elongated and are ribbed longitudinally so as to firmly engage and grip the walls of the openings 96, 96, 98 and I00, and to firmly unite the other top sections to the corner top section. In addition the front of the corner, as shown in Figure 6, of the top section 88 is notched and the notch is provided with a front chromium plated sheet metal edging of substantially curved cross section as shown at I06. The top edge I08 of this edging likewise is imbedded into a groove in the linoleum to form a sealed contact. This curved edging I06 overlies the top of the grooved central portion 30 of the base corner angle and makes a very pleasing finish.

This corner top which is covered with a single I piece of linoleum I09 is not only cemented to the wall by means of the recessed portion 58 of the two'rear edgings 54 but is likewise supportedby the top portion 30 and tops of the flanges 32 and 34 of the basal corner angle, and in addition the corner top is supported by means of the dowel pins I02, I04 of the section 42 and the. dowel pins III] and H2 of the adjacent top section II4. Before the corner and one or two top sections are united together as shown in Figure 7, the side Walls of the linoleum, 42 thereof are covered with a waterproof cement so that when the two top sections are dowelled together as shown in Figure 7 the cement will occupy the junction between the contiguous faces of the linoleum to cement it firmly. together. Experience has shown that in the use of the cabinet, after a period of time these cemented together raw edges of the linoleum between two top sections will practically become as one, working together so that the junction will scarcely be visible and the junction will also be accordingly rendered completely waterproof, moisture-proof, and dustproof.

By reference to Figure 2, I have shown a construction wherein there are a plurality of underlying cabinets such as IIG, H8 and I22. An elongated top I20 is cut to length to cover the cabinets H6 and H8. In addition there is provided a corner top I20 and still another elongated top is cut to cover the additional cabinet I22 which is disposed at'right angles to the aligned cabinets II 6 and H8. In the case of the cabinet I22 it will have its own cut length of cover section 42 which is coextensive in length with the underlying cabinet I22. However the top I20 for the two cabinets H6 and H8 is made or cut to a length on the job coextensive with the combined lengths of the'two cabinets so that there is a QJERQQA pl yiwoodzbodt extendingtheiovereall lengthtotthe two-juxtaposed; cabinets. CQMel'EdA with as piece ofi linoleum. anal tnimmed; along parallel twist and batch edges coextensivewitln the. lengtlm of; the-two cabinets-end joined-as betoredesctibed by dowels to one: t theinturned faces 90: or $2; of; the comet top 88 In. this way a dealer can .caimy-atfew top pieces. oi longer lengths: of toes and them cut them tovmeet; his requirements and; thus actual-Iv reduce his inventory. Also, the junctiomqfi adejacent: cabinets im this. instance. is completely eliminated-by the useofi the:single-piece, t2 0; even:- l'yitmg toptwith its. single piece;linoleurmtopzso; that in: this instance there is not. even present. a: co;- mented togeth-ep junction: between. two, separate linoleum top pieces,

Attention is called to Fig-uses; 9i, l-(lg. lil; 12 which-show arrangement utilized. when; a cab:- itizetl 2 halS ltS outer edge t2 S falling! short ofi the est-scent wall tail leaving at gap; 0t. space therebe! tween. In this type (ii -cabinet I utilize the'end scribes plates i311 and: tall. shown. Figure; 12 which include the basal portion l;331com:espond? ing to the basal portion. lief the cabinetaindi haw ingthe upstanding tight angled: flanges t3 and l-Kt' ot desiredleng th. Thisiconsttuction, is1illusti e/ted pertieul'alrlyzFigutes L2 and 1:3.wherein the member K30 adjustably cooperates; with-L the spaced; flanges. MI}; and: of the uptight- 153d.

The flanges. Mil-and; D42 of. the. upright. [31L are sufiliciei-itly spaced. apart; and: are construe-ted: by welding a right angled piece L43; at. 144; sdthat the flange MB of the.piece.-. i will slide relatively thereto toe adjust: the spacing between the; two cabinets orbetween the walliand cabinet. or as shown in Figure 1' between two spaced; cabienets: I24, This latter installation arises; Where in return: lines: of: cabinets forming; a; ut-shaped arrangement; the twoconfrontin'g cabinets; tilde notcontect; Them-s, there-is asspaiceleftbetween the two: and; it; thereupon; becomesneoessei-ry. to fill this space by: thes. construction: shown in Figures=l2 I31. Imthe; constructionzshown in Figuresl-Q and 13=thetlange [36.215 in genemhcut down to: fit thee spaces. to be filled then; the out edge W111i be positionedibetween; the; opposed flanges. Mill and M2 The. ends oi the: flanges Nita-ml: M2 are preferably giveniaifinish wheree as: the free; edge. I may? be left; unfiizrishersl; In both of theseconstructions oitthesefillen paints-an elongated top: is: preferably. selected; on out which. will extend: across and. cover both. of the adjacent: cabinets; topi I32; oi: course,=..i-n.-

cludes the one-pieceiinol=eumtops lliandithefront and trim, but the end's are lett unfinished except that. *oneot tin'e-ends hais openings therein for the reception of the dowels pins as herein, before clescrtbed-i In a constmxotiom as illustrated in Figure thetop F3 2 is selected: of such a length the-tit is long-er -tli-aln=the--under lying cabinet W4- w-hei'eby the too proj eots.- beyond" the cabinet; However it" is sawed'off or out offalongthe line 135? see Fieu-reiogso that it ust fits int-he: space between-thewal'l andthe opposite end" of the cabinet [Mi overly ng-"the ca-blnet- 2- 5- ands-15o the top-flanges- 1'34 and I36 of the end scribes plate. In this construction these flanges I 34 and 1:36 and the base may be either-preselected 01 cutzto u desired Widths so that they justfill the: gap betweemthes. end l2 6? of the cabinet: and. the; ash scent walla L2 8; as: shown m-Figures-9 and :10; and'theys areasuitablyi fastened to: the: end-.1 l 26? est-shown :nat. l-til. In addition, the top I132: which-1 ovetlies: caihi'netz' E24 is: out from: a; lengtlivthat liS longercthanethezlengthaof linoleum. is. eitherlefit: exposed:- or provided with the cover. molding- 011" edg ing 51!;-

. the: fillBB pieces; we to; be used to cover the distanne; between. the cabinet 1-24 and the enoli wall I328 asshown in;Eigure-9', the-: angular filler piece. I at: has. its. flange: lMi merely: abutting the; well and: rests on the. base; 433.. The-piece M 0% willithereforei needzno base.

Figure: 3: shows another. type of: installation WhiChi includes two; corner: members 88;; and the other arrangements; of: undenlyingz cabinets: such asllkfi, M3; I50;- lc52 list -all madeiin accordancewith theprinciples ofrthe present inventiom This installationi shows two. comers I 20; spaced apant, and; an: elongated single: top piece cut" to length to conesand: close. the tops of the two aligned: cabinets I52t andi [$54 and? making a dowelled tight joint with: the-edge of-the corner- 8&.. addition there is: another: length of top cuttoi snugly fit. between the' two cotners 89- and comer. the=tops of: the-aligned: cabinets tilt and 152: andjoined; toithadowelled -edge ofi the-second comes 88; So; also theizedsr wthird section of elongatedctopmieoewhich-covers the open'topped cabinet I46 and is dowelkjointed to tlie opposito endiofithal'ast mentioned corner ai in tl-iemamner heizeinbefonedescnibedl- Thus in theinst'a-llation shown in; Figmie =3; using: two top cor-11ers"- 38 anmoutting oftaeleng-thi of prefer-med: top whi'ch is exactlmdimensioned: to: cover the cabinets I 51 anda. I it; and: theecabinetst M8 and 50% end then cutting-off; orrselectinganotlier tiap piece m" sum= cientlengtmtoicoven thezcabi-neu 14 6i; an installation suchtas shown-dmFl'gureB: may: be provideds This; it is .of course understoo'di, will be installed by dgowellingtth'e nawmeetingk edges: of the elomgatedi. top sections: and the cor-nersections; 88 together and; adhering: the abuttingcutedges ofitheswaiterpro'ofing atopoovering togethepwhere by; to; pr.ovide:.- as substantially continuous; unihtennupted surface for: the: cabinet installations. beentheretotote explained the raw edges of. the: linoleum;- when: out 011 and adheredi together; by: means: ofcam's adhesive, .pro 'iide ai -lino leumr. omen; thettin: time wiliibecome pnaoticailly as one rwor-kingitogethere so 'that at junction will scarcely heavisible';..amdi tlieijunction-will thus be rendered: completely waterpnoof,.. moistureprooi andzldustproofi, and the-rdowels which enter the uniderlyingtwooclemlaminationstkfli will hold-them; ti htly togethemin. at:uttirig flush relationships Obviously. the imzentioniis not' limited to the s ecifict: ClfifiiilS: of construction disclosed herein but isicaipable;ofiothenmodjfications midi-changes WithQut-depaiting; fromi the; spinit and; scope: of the. amended claims.

Having thus described. my invention, what I claimes, new. andtdesiie-to secure by- Letters Patent 1;Ii1 a..'sectional kitchen cabinet, acabiriet I relation to said transverse wall, and a filler structure comprising upstanding and overlapping face panels filling the space between the transverse wall and the adjacent side of the cabinet, one of said face panels having a transverse flange at one edge for abutting the transverse wall and the companion face panel having at one edge a transverse flange secured to the adjacent side of the cabinet.

2. A sectional kitchen cabinet comprising a pair of cabinet sections open at the top and spaced apart endwise, a top overlying said cabinet sections and covering the space therebetween, a filler structure comprising upstanding and overlapping face panels filling the space between the cabinet sections, one of said face panels having a transverse flange at one edge abutting and secured to the side of one cabinet and the companion face panel having a transverse flange at one edge abutting and secured to the side of the other cabinet section.

HARVEY G. KNUTH.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date D. 141,017 Stanitz Apr. 24, 1945 811,209 Farrell Jan. 30, 1906 1,147,022 Hoffman July 20, 1915 1,707,282 Schneider Apr. 2, 1929 1,729,865 Butz Oct. 1, 1929 2,280,094 Madsen Apr. 21, 1942 2,298,578 Madsen Oct. 13, 1942 2,313,690 White Mar. 9, 1943 2,378,402 Geimer June 19, 1945 OTHER REFERENCES Sweets Catalog File, Architectural, 1942, Section 28. Published by Sweets Catalog Service, New York, N. Y. 

